Visual indicator for submergible boats.



No. 685,!64. Patented Oct. 22, 190i.

C. A. MORRIS.

VISUAL INDICATOR FOR SUBME RGIB LE BOATS.

(Application filed Nov. 21, 1899. Renewed Apr. 1, 1901.) (No Model.) 3Shams-Sheet I.

mllli g ii WITNESSES:

INVENTOR ATTORNEY No. 685,I64. I I Patented Oct. 22, I90I.

C. A. MORRIS.

VISUAL INDICATOR FOR SUBIIIERGIBL'E BOATS. (Application flledAI ov. 21,1899. Renewed Apr. 1I 1901.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets8heat 2.

Q If?) WITNESSES: INVENTOR m: mams PEYERS co, PKO'IO-l may. NASHINGYON.o. c.

Patented Oct. 22, l90l.

C. A. MORRIS. VISUAL INDICATOR FOR SU'BMERGIBLE BOATS.

(Application filed Nov. 21, 1899. Renewed Apr, 1, 1901.)

(No Model.) 3 sheeis sheet 3.

INVENTOR WITNESSES: X W' ATTORN EY UNITED STATES 'ATENT FFrcE.

CHARLES A. MORRIS, OF GLENRIDGE, NEW JERSEY.

V ISUAL NDICATOR FOR SUBMERGlBLE-BOATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 685,164, dated October22, 1901.

Application filed November 21, 1899. Renewed April 1, 1901. Serial No.53,955. (No model.)

To all whom it Wmy concern: 7

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. MORRIS, a

' citizen of the United States, residing at Glenridge, in the county ofEssex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Visual Indicators for Submergible Boats, of which thefollowing is a specification.

In this class of boats it is important to know at all times the positionof the boats longitudinal axis, whether level or inclined, and ifinclined what the degree of inclination may be. This is the moreimportant after diving and during submergence. To attain this end, thepresent invention comprises means for indicatingwisually the depth ofsubmergence and combined therewith means for indicating visually at alltimes the degree of inclination, if any, of the longitudinal axis of theboat.

In the accompanying drawings,which illustrate embodiments of theinvention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus in one of itsforms, and Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.

Fig. 3 is a plan of the indicating devices of same on a large scale.Fig. 4 is a longitudnal vertical section of one of the pressure deviceson a large scale. Fig. 5 is a viewillustrating another form of theindicating devices. In this construction a reversal of the moving andstationary indicating instruments is shown. Fig. 6 is a viewillustrating the application of the depth-indicator to a pendulum devicefor showing the inclination of the boats axis. Fig". 7 is a viewillustrating another form of the invention where a diaphragm-is used asa pressure device and another form of depth-indicating device isemployed. Fig. 8 illustrates still another form of the invention whereinelectricity is employed to connect the pressure device with theindicator. Fig. 9 illustrates the adaptation ofa recorder to theindicator. Referring primarily to Figs. 1 to 4, A represents as a wholethe indicating devices or vis-.

ual indicator, and B B two like pressure devices situated toward theends of the boat and preferably at like distances from. themidshipcenter of the length of the boat.

The visual'indicator A comprises a fixed upright plate a, withgraduations marked thereon to indicate the depth of submersion. Movableup and down over the face of this plate a is an indicator 0, which hasor may on sheaves e, f, and g, and the respective ends of the indicator0 are attached to one side of each of said endless cords. The cords areoperated by the devices B, one of which will now be described withespecial reference to Fig. 4.. A cylinder h, open at its outer end, isconnected at its inner'end with an oil-chamber i, which has a capacitysomewhat in excess of that of the cylinder, and this oil-chamber isconnected with the water through the skin of the boat by a pipe j, sothe pressure of the water, due to submergence, will be transmit: ted tothe oil and will force the latter into the inner end of the cylinder h.In the cylinder is a piston 71;, provided with a piston-rod m, which hasa cross-head n, and to the ends of this cross-head are secured two longcoilsprings 0 0,which extend back and have couplings p, by which theyare adj ustably secured to the cylinder. The cross-head n is secured toone side of the endless cord (1.

The operation is as follows: As the boat sinks or dives the pressure ofthe water of submergence on the oil in'the oil-chamber causes the latterto force the piston outward in the cylinder against the springs 0, thestrength of which is accurately tested. The cross-head n moves theendless cord over the guide-sheaves and moves the indicator 0 over thegraduations on the plate a, thus indicating visually the degree ofsubmergence. one of the pressure devices B conuectswitli; the water ofsubmergence at one end of the boat and the other at the opposite endthere of, if the boat is depressed more at one end than the other, theindicator cwill assume an oblique position, thus indicating visually theposition or angle of inclination of the axis of the boat. In otherwords, the indicator 0 visibly signalizes both the depth of' submersionamidships and the Variation of level of the keel, if there be any.piston in the pressure device rendersit necessary to reduce the frictionto the'minimum and to maintain it substantially constant, and hence theemployment of a body of oil be- The employment of a, 7

tween the water and the cylinder. ,As the volume of oil is equal to thecapacity of the cylinder, no water can get into the latter, and

perfect lubrication and freedom from rust or I corrosion are assured. Afilling-inlet q is provided for the oil and a cock 7 in the pipej toclose the oil-chamber from the water when necessary. The oil that mayfind its way past the piston will drip into a cup 8, which is providedwith a drainage-cock. The indicating devices A may be convenientlyplaced in the conning-tower of the boat and the devices B B in anyconvenient places in the boat.

Good results may be obtained by the construction of the indicatingdevices as shown in Fig. 5. In this construction there is a fixed orstationary indicator-bar t, and the plate to, having on it thegraduation-marks 1), is carried up and down by the endless cords. Inthis construction the plates u will be inclined according to theinclination of the axis of the heat. This construction isin mostrespects a mere reversal of the construction seen in the principalviews.

Fig. 6 illustrates another construction, wherein but one pressure deviceor mechanism connecting with the water of submergence amidships isemployed. The cords d connect with a graduated plat-e t, mounted in aguide-frame wand adapted to be moved up and down therein by the pressuredevice B. In this construction the inclination of the axis of the boatis visually indicated by a pendulum 0a, which may have graduations yalong its. lower edge to indicate the degree of inclination by referenceto a vertical line .2 on the plate 1).

Obviously there are various specilic constructions that may be adoptedfor carrying out my invention, and'I do not limit myself to those hereinshown. I should hold as coming within my invention any indicatingdevice. of this general character wherein are combined a visualdepth-indicator operated by the water in which the boat is submerged anda visual inclination indicator which shows the position of thelongitudinal axis of the boat.

The cords d may of course be flexible connectors of any kind, as finewires, chains, 850. Indeed, any other equivalent connecting and drivingmeans may be employed in lieu of the endless cords. The upright positionof the graduated indicating-plates is not essential, but it is aconvenient arrangement foravisual indicator.

Fig. 7 illustrates a form of the apparatus wherein the pressure devicesare represented as diaphragms and the indicating devices are handsmoving independently about a graduated dial, the mechanism between thepressure device and visual indicator being racks and pinions. Thepressure device B comprises a diaphragm-casing h having 2. diaphragm 7%.This diaphragm is acted on by the water of submergence entering thechamber behind it through a pipe j ,and the diaphragm acts in turn on alever t through a rod or stem m A spring 0 resists the movement of thediaphragm. The plate isin the form of a graduated dial traversed by twohands or indicators o one operated by each pressure device B through themedium of a rod (V, a bell-crank lever f, and a rack 6*, which mesheswith a pinion on the hand-arbor. \Vhere the two hands turn about onecenter, as here shown, the arbor of one hand will be tubular and heslipped over the other and the pinions-will be in different planes.

It may sometimes be that mechanical transmission of power from thepressure device to the indicating device is not possible orconvenient,owing to the construction of the boat, and in this caseelectrical means may be employed. One form of such a device is shown inFig 8. In this figure the pressure devices are the same as in Fig. 7 andhave the same reference-letters, but the lever 1? acts on acontact-lever t, which plays over the contacts of a rheostat R in acircuit (1, which circuit includes a generator G and avoltmeterV. Thereis a voltmeter, with its hand or indicator, for each pressure device,one meter being placed directly behind the other, with theirhands'playing over one series of graduations on .a plate behind.Obviously the movement of the lever 19 will put more or less resistanceinto the circuit d, and thus influence the voltmeter in a way that willbe readily understood by those skilled in the art.

It will be understood that the pressure device illustrated in Figs. 1 to4: may be sub-' stituted for that seen in Figs. 7 and 8. The pressuredevice where a piston is employed is advantageous in giving a greaterextent of movement than a diaphragm; but either form may be employed.

Fig. 9 shows how the device or apparatus seen in Figs. 1 and 2 may besupplied with means for recording the position of the axis of the boat.In this diagrammatical view, S represents a ruled traveling sheet toreceive the record, said sheet being driven by asuitable clock mechanism0. On the endless cords or connectors 01 d are respectively securedpencils or other markers t 6 which bear on the sheet S and leave arecord.

I am well aware that a pendulum has been before employed to indicate thelateral and longitudinal inclination of a boat and that depth-indicatorshave been employed on sub mergible or submarine boats, as well asairtomatic means for keeping such a. boat on an even keel. These devicesI do not claim. My invention includes a depth-indicator andinclination-indicator coactively' combined and provided with graduationsto indicate visu ally the degree of submergence' and inclination, andthis combination I believe to be new.

Having thus described my invention, I

- claim- 1. In means for visually indicating the depth of submergenceamidships and the position of the longitudinal axis of a submergibleboat, the coactive combination with a. pressure mechanism, actuated bythe water of submergence, and a visual depth-indicts tor, operated bysaid pressure mechanism, of means, controlled by the inclination of thelongitudinal axis of the boat for visually indicating said inclination.

2. In means for visually indicating the depth of submergence amidshipsand the position of the longitudinal axis of a submergible boat, thecoactive combination with a pressure mechanism, actuated by the water ofsubmergence, and a visual depth-indicator, operated by said pressuremechanism, of means, actuated also through the water of submergence anda pressure mechanism, for visually indicating the inclination of thelongitudinal axis of the boat.

3. In means for visually indicating the depth of submergence amidshipsand the position of the longitudinal axis of a submergible boat, thecombination with a pressure mechanism comprising two like pressuredevices connecting respectively with the water of submergence atopposite ends of the boat, and endless cords operated by the respectivepressure devices, of a' visual depth-indicator and a visualinclination-indicator, both operated by said cords.

4. In means for visually indicating the depth of submergence amidshipsand the position of the longitudinal axis of a submergible boat, thecombination with a pressure mechanism consisting of two like pressuremechanisms connecting respectively with the water of submergence atopposite ends of the boat, and endless cords operated by the respectivepressure devices, of a stationary, graduated plate a, and anindicator 0,adapted to move over the face of said plate, said indicator beingconnected at its ends to therespective operating-cords.

5. In a depth-indicating mechanism for submergible boats, thecombination with in- I dicating devices comprising a plate withgraduations and an indicator, of a pressure device for operating thesame, said device comprising a cylinder, a piston therein, anoil-chamber connected with said cylinder, and a pipe which is adapted toadmit water to said oilchamber, which latter has a capacity not lessthan that of the cylinder.

6. The combination with a cylinder, a pis ton therein, the piston-rod,and a spring or springs to resist the outward movement of the piston, ofan oil-chamber connected with the inner end of the cylinder, saidoil-chamber having a capacity equal to that of the cylinder and an inletfor water, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In means for visually indicating the a visual inclination-indicator,both operated by said means.

8. In means for indicating the depthof submergence of a vessel and theinclination of its axis, the combination with visual indicators for thedepth and axial inclination, of a recorder for recording the axialinclination,

substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 16th day ofNovember, 1899, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. CHARLES A.MORRIS. WVitn esses:

PETER A. Boss, HENRY CONNETT.

